The Illinois Local 150 Operating Engineers' Apprenticeship Office will be accepting applications for heavy equipment operator and heavy equipment repair technician. | Alex Banner/Pixabay
The Illinois Local 150 Operating Engineers' Apprenticeship Office will be accepting applications for heavy equipment operator and heavy equipment repair technician. | Alex Banner/Pixabay
Illinois state Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) recently alerted constituents to apprenticeship openings for heavy equipment operators and other positions.
"ATTENTION JOB SEEKERS!!" the senator posted on Facebook this week. "The Apprenticeship Office for Local 150 Operating Engineers is opening applications in October for the trades of Heavy Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Repair Technician, Geothermal Well Driller Operator, and Construction and Building Inspector."
On its website, Local 150 said, "Apprentices are taught the proper use, care, and safe handling of the equipment used in connection with their work and, of course, the important skills necessary to become a successful Operator."
While acquiring job skills, apprentices are "a regular part of the work force on whom contractors and co-workers rely," the website added. "Apprentices are also required to attend classes and complete the prescribed courses related to the trade in order to complement their on-the-job training. If the on-the-job or school work is not satisfactory, they may be dropped from the program or sent back to repeat that segment of training."
The William E. Dugan Training Center is located in Wilmington, Ill. The center features 342,000 square feet of space that houses an indoor training area, nearly 200 pieces of heavy equipment, 30 classrooms, a state-of-the-art welding facility, a construction material testing lab, an equipment simulator lab, a 200-seat auditorium, and more. Instructors are available to members Monday through Saturday each week, except holidays.
Apprentices musts be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED. A valid driver's license is also required.
"A statement from a licensed physician stating physical ability to perform the work of the trades will be required 30 days after being accepted into the program," Bryant's Facebook post said. "Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language."
In the June primary election, Bryant ran unopposed in her efforts to continue serving the residents of District 58, a Journal Star report said.
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